Shawls are known for being quite durable garments. However, that does not mean that they are impervious from looking tired and worn. Piling is a term that is used to refer to the bits of fluff that appear on the
surface of shawls after repeated use.
They are caused when the surface of the fabric comes in contact with other surfaces. This is a normal reaction of fabric to being in use. Remember that just because piling is normal that does not mean that you have to live with it.
In order to prevent piling from happening to your shawls, it is best if the garment is hand-washed. Placing the fabric in a washing machine can put a lot of stress on it because of the harsh tumbling motions.
It is particularly important to use a gentler method of washing for items that have loose threads, embellishments and openwork patterns. This is because these styles are more easily snagged. If hand-washing is not an option, make sure to turn the garment inside out before tossing it in the wash.
For shawls that already exhibit traces of piling, all hope is not lost. There is a device called a fabric shaver that is readily available in most department or household stores. These can remove the pills, or the bits of fabric that make the garment look worn. Fabric shavers work best with flat knits.
On the other hand, knits with textures or patterned services because they can be damaged. For loose threads, a knit-picker can be used. This is a tool with hooks to draw the thread from the outside to the inside. It is easy to find a knit-picker as most sewing shops carry them.
Another problem with
shawls that can result in them looking old is when they are stretched out of shape. Avoiding that situation entirely is still the best remedy. To prevent the garment from losing its shape, make sure to be aware of its limit when you wear them. Take note that most problems with stretching occur because of storage rather than use.
If you are planning to store your garments, fold them flat rather than hanging them. Gravity can pull the threads downward and permanently make them lose their shape. In addition to this, the corners of the hanger can cause bumps to form on the shoulders of the shawl because the fabrics are pulled down over time.
Although over-stretching the garment is most common in heavy fabrics, this can also happen with lightweight materials, particularly when the weather is quite humid.
If you cannot avoid hanging the garments, use thickly-padded hangers or ones that have a bottom bar so it is easy to fold over the fabric over them. The important thing to remember is to distribute the weight of the fabric evenly so that it lessens the possibility of it being stretched.
Also, do not make the mistake of storing the fabric and forgetting about it. Make sure to take them out of storage once in a while to ventilate them and change their position. This will prevent them from smelling musty and losing their shape.
Finally, remedy a stretched out fabric by blocking, a process of bringing back the fabric to its original size. This can work for knitted garments. Simply place the fabric into a tub of warm water and let it soak. Press the water out, being careful not to twist the strands out of shape. Once the excess water is removed, mold the garment back into shape and allow to air dry.
